NUTMEG

Description:The nutmeg tree is any of several species of trees in genus Myristica. The most important commercial species is Myristica fragrans, an evergreen tree indigenous to the Banda Islands in the Moluccas (or Spice Islands) of Indonesia. The nutmeg tree is important for two spices derived from the fruit: nutmeg and mace. It also grows in Kerala, a state in southern India.

Nutmeg is the seed of the tree, roughly egg-shaped, while mace is the dried "lacy" reddish covering of the seed. This is the only tropical fruit that is the source of two different spices !!

Nutmeg is used in a powdered form in cooking and imparts a delicate aroma to food. Cuisines around the world incorporate nutmeg and mace in both savory and sweet recipes.

Kitchen Pharmacy: The oil of nutmeg has shown to be beneficial to the gastro-intestinal tract as well as digestion problems.